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By Stefan Coerts

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22/04/2013 21:40:00

The towering defender says Spanish football has taken Germany's place as the most successful following Barca and Spain's successes

Gerard Pique is eagerly anticipating Barcelona's Champions League semi-final tie against Bayern Munich and believes Spanish football has displaced the German game as the dominant force in Europe in recent years.

Barcelona have won three Champions League titles since the turn of the century, while Spain were crowned European champions in 2008 and 2012 as well as winning the 2010 World Cup and Pique has stressed they have changed football with their possession-based style of play.

"Bayern are a great opponent, but people should not forget that we are still a great team, too," Pique was quoted as saying by AS.

"The time where football was defined as a sport of 11 players against 11 players with the Germans eventually emerging victorious is something of the past. And we are the ones who ended it.

"With Barcelona and Spain, we have left our mark on the game with a style of play that has changed history."

Tuesday's first leg at the Allianz Arena is scheduled to kick off at 20:45CET.